Safety device for aeroplanes



y 1929- J. D. LEWALLEN ET AL 1,713,473

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES File Mar'ch 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J D. Le /den Ali Lewallen ATTORNEY WITNESS:

May 14, 1929 J. D. LEWALLEN ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES File March 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet JD. Lewalzenl A H .Lewa Z2670 INVENTOR WXTNESS' Patented May '14, 1 929.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

units '1). LEWALLEN, or omnna, am) ALONZO n. LEWALLEN, or cna'rranooea,

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SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANE S.

Application flledlarch 5, 1928. Serial No. 259,218.

This invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, the general object of the invention being to provide means for preventing nose dives and back slips through means of flap-like members arranged on the wing of.

the plane and forming pockets when opened which act to catch the wind and thus cause the plane to come out of-the dive.

Another object of the invention is to provide means located in the cockpit whereby the pilot can operate the flap-like members when necessary.

This invention also conissts in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing our invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a plane equipped with the invention. Figure 2 is a similar view showing the rear member in operative position.

igure 3 1s a similar view showing the front member in operative position.

Figure 4 is a plan View of a plane equipped with the invention.

In these views, A indicates the fuselage of the plane and B indicates the wing thereof. A bracket 1 is fastened to each side edge of the wing and a similar bracket is located in middle of the wing and front and rear flap-like members 2 and 3 have their adjacent edges pivoted to the top parts of the brackets at their ends. Each member 'is of substantiaily the same shape as the wing so that it can rest flatly on the top of the wing when not in use and thus form a part of the wing. /V hen either member is raised, it will form a pocket between itself and the wing which A lever 4 is pivoted intermediate its ends I to the cipliending part of the center bracket and a l 5 connects the front end of this lever with the member 2 and a link 6 connects the rear end of the lever with the member 3. The connection between the link 6 and the member 3 is a slot and pin one, as shown at 7. As shown, the links pass through holes formed in the wing and the top part of the fuselage. 'A bell crank 8 is pivoted to a top 3 part of the plane and has its central part connected to the forward part of the lever 4 by a link 9 and a rod 10 is connected with the free end of the bell crank, with its lower end connected to a foot lever 11, intermediate the ends of said lever, said lever being pivoted at its forward end to a bracket 12fastened to an interior part of the fuselage. The rear end of this lever 11 is provided with a pedal 13. A lever 14 pivotally supported by a bracket 15, is arranged at ri ht angles to the lever 11 and is adapted to li t the same when the pedal 16 on said lever 14 is depressed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that by depressing the pedal 16 of the lever 14, the lever 11 will be raised and this movement Wlll rock the bell crank through means of the rod 10 so as to cause said bell crank to raise the forward end of the lever 4, which movement causes the member 2 to be lifted through means of the link 5. This is done when the plane is in a nose dive so that the wind, acting against the member 2, willcause the plane to right itself. Then the lever 11 is depressed by stepping upon the pedal 13 so as to force the bell crank against the adjusting screw 17 carried by a bracket 18 in the fuselage, which will act to lower the member 2 and raise the member 3 so that the air in the pocket formed by the member 2 will escape from the space bt ween the member 3 and the rear part of the wing. As soon as the air passes from under the member 3, said member will automatically close, due to the pressure of the wind acting on the same. If the plane should get into a back slip, the pedal 13 of member 11 is pressed upon so as to rock the lever 4 to open the member 3, which will form a pocket to catch the air so that the plane will right itself. Thus we have provided simple means for causing an aeroplane to right itself after dropping into a nose dive or a back slip.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of our invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that we may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What we claim is In an aeroplane, brackets connected with the wing thereof, a flap-like member having its rear pivotally connected with the brackets, a second flap-like member having its front pivotally connected With the brackets, said members normally resting upon the upper surface of the wing, manually operated means for raising either member to form a pocket for catching the air to cause the plane to ri ht itself after dropping into a nose dive or a %ack slip, such manually operated means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate one of its ends to one of the brackets, links connecting the ends of the lever with the flaplike members, a bell crank pivoted to a part of the plane, a link connecting the central part of the bell crank with the lever, a link connected with the free end of the bell crank, an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the bell crank, a foot lever to which the lower end of the link is pivoted and a second foot lever having one end passing under the first lever.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

JAMES D. LEWALLEN. ALONZO H. LElVALLEN. 

